04 January 2023, Commemorating the birthday of Louis Braille
Braille: Visual Touch Towards a World of Knowledge
Braille began to emerge when in 1824, a 15-year-old blind boy named Louis Braille developed a writing system that would change the lives of millions of people with visual impairments around the world. This system is known as "Braille," which uses combinations of dots in a specific pattern to represent letters, numbers, punctuation marks, and mathematical symbols. Since then, Braille has become a gateway for the blind to explore the world of knowledge and achieve independence in everyday life.
History and Development
Before Braille, blind people faced many obstacles in obtaining an education and accessing written information. Initially, there were several systems developed to help the blind read, but these systems tended to be complex and difficult to learn. Louis Braille, a student at the Institute for the Blind in Paris, felt that there was a need to develop a method that was simpler and more accessible.
Braille was inspired by the "night writing system" invented by Captain Charles Barbier, a military system that uses a combination of dots and marks to communicate at night without light. Braille adopted this idea and simplified it to a more efficient and practical form, with six dots in two columns forming 63 different combinations.
Structure and Function
Braille letters consist of six small dots arranged in two columns with three dots in each column. Each letter, number, and punctuation mark in the alphabet is represented by a distinctive dotted pattern. To read Braille, the blind place their fingers over the dots and feel for the pattern. They can feel the dots with their fingertips, and by recognizing the pattern of the dots, they can read and interpret the information contained in the Braille text.
Benefits and Role in Education
Braille has opened doors of knowledge and educational opportunities for the blind around the world. Using the system, they can read texts, learn math, and even access the same educational materials as their sighted counterparts. Braille also supports the independence of the blind in everyday life, enabling them to read signs, menus and other materials encountered in everyday life.
Challenges and Progress
While Braille has brought great benefits, challenges remain in terms of accessibility and use of the technology. In the digital age, braille display technology and screen reader programs have advanced rapidly, enabling the visually impaired to access information more widely and more efficiently.
However, there is still a need to continue to fight for inclusion and accessibility for the blind in society. Raising awareness about the importance of Braille, and integrating education and work in a more inclusive way for them, will continue to be a step forward in strengthening the independence and participation of the blind in society.
Basically Braille is an extraordinary innovation that has opened the door to the world of knowledge for the blind. By relying on touch, this system allows them to gain knowledge, pursue their dreams, and reach their full potential. Despite the challenges of achieving full accessibility, the presence of Braille continues to illuminate the path for inclusion and opportunities for people with visual impairments to participate fully in community life. as a form of commemorating the birthday of Luist Braille, January 4th is celebrated as Braille Day.
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